Sports

On Aug. 5, 2013, Alex Rodriguez, third baseman for the New York Yankees, was suspended for a record-setting 211 games for testing positive to four different performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). After an arbitration hearing, this sentence was reduced to 162 games, suspending him for the entire 2014 season. He stated that he was going to fight the ruling in federal court.

This is not the first time Rodriguez has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. In February 2009, Rodriguez was suspended for testing positive for testosterone, Primobolan, and anabolic steroids. All of which are highly illegal for use of a Major League Baseball player.

Rodriguez has filed a lawsuit against Major League Baseball claiming that they bribed the main witness in his case. He believes that Major League Baseball paid Anthony Bosch, the proprietor of the Biogenesis clinic (Rodriguez’s source of PEDs) $5 million to cooperate against “A-Rod.” Rodriguez also claims that the league has breached his confidentiality agreement by sending harmful evidence to media sources.

Major League Baseball players have responded in a big way to A-Rod’s lawsuit. Many headlines thinly veil Rodriguez’s fate when he returns to the league. A New York Post headline states “A-Rod ‘needs to be scared’: Players vent anger over lawsuit.” A CBS Sports also states “Fellow players hope to kick A-Rod out of players’ union.” The report predicts that when Rodriguez returns to the league, he will be intentionally hit by pitches. Not exactly a welcome back party.

A-Rod has accomplished so many things in his 20-year career. He is a 12-time all-star, three-time Most Valuable Player, and has 654 career home runs (fifth on the all-time list), and has been a huge role model to baseball fans all over the world for two decades.

Seawolf outfielder Giordano Salvetti said, “I think that steroids are unnecessary in baseball. Steroids were a trend for professional ball players that have a lack of confidence. The thing I love about baseball is that it’s not always about strength. It’s about consistency, technique and fundamentals.”

Performance enhancing drugs play a large role in today’s sports. In 2003, 1,200 Major League Baseball players were tested for PEDs and 104 tested positive. That’s almost nine percent of players.

“It gives players an illegal advantage that isn’t earned through hard work every day in the weight room,” said pitcher Haydon Turpin. “Not only does it give other players an advantage that take steroids, it’s horrible for your body. They get you bigger and stronger in a non-natural way.”

When asked how he felt about major league players who use performance-enhancing drugs, catcher Will Lighthouse said, “They’re cheaters. They shouldn’t be allowed to play, they shouldn’t be paid, and they shouldn’t be allowed in the Hall of Fame.”

The league is cracking down on steroid use. They have very strict policies. The first positive test earns players a 50-game suspension. The second positive test lands players a 100-game suspension. The third time results in a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball. All bans are administered without pay.